What equipment do I need?

Update: we're getting lots of requests from parents to curate a starter package, which we're putting together now - stay tuned!

Awesome, you're on your high school squash team. Now what? Before the first time on court, you'll need your equipment. Here are the details.

Shoes
Shoes are usually the easiest part, and you may already have some athletic shoes that are fine for squash. But, there's sometimes a problem.

Basically all you need is court shoes that are appropriate for a gym floor, and for moving sideways as well as forward/backward. So, basketball shoes are OK, running shoes aren't (because running isn't sideways, and so the shoe provides less protection against turning an ankle). Best are dedicated squash shoes, but they aren't strictly necessary.

Here's the potential problem: the soles of the shoes need to be "non-marking". The wood floor on a squash court does not have a shiny finish the way a regular gym floor does. On the unfinished wood of a squash court, some shoes leave black marks, and after one match, the floor would need a couple hours of hard cleaning. Almost all court shoes are non-marking, but some aren't, and you can usually tell by rubbing the edge of the sole of the shoe on white paper to see if any marks appear.

Racquet
The racquet is an important personal choice - some just "feel right" and others don't. My usual advice is to not spend too much on your first racquet until you have some squash experience, and you've tried a few different shapes and weights and have a feel for your preferences.

Racquets prices range from around $50 to $250 or more, and there are some solid beginner racquets in the $50-$100 range. One trick to get an excellent value is to order a new racquet from an older model year - an excellent, never-used racquet that cost $200 in 2023 can be found today for $115.

Eye protection
Squash is considered a non-contact sport, and while there is usually a little contact, injuries are less common than many other sports, and serious injuries or concussions vanishingly rare.

One reason for this is that players use eye protection, sometimes called squash "eyewear" or "goggles". Eye protection is not an option; it's mandatory for all sanctioned matches in the US, and protects players from both the ball and your opponents racquet. Every time you step on court, wear your goggles, even if you're just warming up - make "court = goggles" a never-fail habit.